PUBLIC WORKS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1919, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS

ELECTRIC POWER SCHEMES,

TARANAKI RAILWAYS. ROADS AND BRIDGES. | £1,000,000 TO BE SPENT ON THEM Wellington, Last Night. When the House resumed to-night, Sir William Fraser laid the Public Works Statement and the Estimates on the table. He stated the Loan Bill would come down later, but, owing to a portion of last year's appropriations still being available, it would only be .necessary to borrow £750,000 for, public works this year. Continuing, he said: "I regret to say that the scarcity of labor was as apparent (luring last financial year as it was during the previous one. It is true that as the soldiers returned to New Zealand a slight improvement in numbers of men available for my work was manifest, but that was only" during February and March. Since April, however, a marked change has taken place, but the number in my employ is.still fully fjfteen hundred below the pre-war mark. The truth is that the manhood of the Dominion, including also the returned soldiers, has very slightly increased in numbers since the war began, as the lads who have passed into manhood do not outnumber those who have been killed or maimed. It is . owing to this fact that only £522,092' , has been expended on railways, roads, and bridges out of £976,055 provided on the estimates. I am in hope, however, that the results of the operations during'the current financial year will show a marked improvement. A considerable amount of machinery has been ordered, and some has actually come to hand. ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT. The results from the Lake Coleridge undertaking continue to be increasingly remunerative. The net revenue for the year ended March 31 last exceeded the cosT of working the scheme by £20,156. The interest on the capital sunk in the undertaking amounted to £15,092, leaving a balance towards the Depreciation Account of £4494. The result for the six months ended September that the revenue exceeded the estimate for that period by £2,864, and the expenditure fell short of the estimate by £645, showing a net gain beyond the estimate of £3,609. If the returns for the second six months are on thte same scale, then on March 31, 1920, there will have been received as net revenue more than sufficient to defray both interest and depreciation charges, viz., 6 per cent, on total capital cost. As soon as it is possible to erect the plant necessary to generate the full power available at Lake Coleridge, the net receipts from this undertaking will largely increase. Ardpuni.—A shaft is being sunk on each side of the river at the site of the proposed dam, to be followed by a tunnel connecting these shafts, with the view of testing the stability of the strata which will have to support the foundations and wings of the dam. As soon as the Enginofr-in-Chief is satisfied from these investigations that it will be safe to proceed, tiie main work will at once be started and carried to completion witii all possible despatch. Mangahao.—At Mangahao, since April

1 last, the construction of the road to give access to the various sections of the work has been pushed on. The formation has been completed beyond the central reservoir to the top of the hill overlooking the Mangahao, and a start is now being made with the metalling. A complete steam-generating power plant of 360 horse-power capacity has been ordered to supply power to the machinery required -in the construction of the tunnels and other works. Arrangements have been made to establish a small sawmill on the site to cut the requisite timber. Difficulty has been found in obtaining a supply of suitable labor. Temporary boarding-houses have been established for the men employed, and plans are ready for the erection of huts and dining and recreation rooms when timber i 9 available.

Horaliora.—The hydro-electrie works at Horaliora have been purchased from the Waihi Gold Mining Company on satisfactory terms. The amount of power which can now be developed is 8,000 horse-power. A maximum of 3,325 horsepower has to be supplied to the vendors, leaving 4,675 horse-power available for distribution throughout the surrounding districts. The present available supply of jpower can be increased by ejecting two more turbines, and steps will be taken to j give effect to this as soon as practicable. Statutory provision for the full cost of establishing these works will be made this aeesion. Provision will also be made for the completion of plans for the erection of hydro-electric wprks at Waikaremoana, and the survey of transmission lines therefrom to Gisborne and Napier, and thence to Wairarapa. The intention is, as soon a 9 labor and funds are available, that the works at Waikaremoana should be commenced. An equal sum will also be provided for elaborating schemes for the South Island, and, similarly, it is intended, when labor and funds are available that such schemes will be set in operation. YEAR'S EXPENDITURE. The following table shows briefly the particulars of* expenditure during the financial year ended March 31, 1919, also the total expenditure in respect to each class of work from the date of the inauguration of the public works policy !to March 31 last:-r Total. £ £ HallwaysNew construction .. 290,020 25,703,061 Additions to open i lines 91.903 9,831,601 j floads 226,073 11,021,216 'public Buildings .... 235,846 7,330,748 ; Immigration 12,018* 2,83U,110 i Purchase of Native I lands .......... 2,061,906 i Lighthouses, harbor I works, and defences 5,392 1,148,443 1 Tcurist and health rt : sor ts 1,620 261,060 Telegraph extension .. 198,611 3.828,599 Development of mining 518 88J,014 Defence works, general 8,809 l,oal,_t>7o Departmental 115,419 1,431,204 Electric power supply and development .. 9,254 9,254 " a ... W . aUr 13.665 160,720 Payment to Midland railway bondholders lands improvement .. 4,268* 135,340 Minor works and ser- mum vices 812,807 Plant, material, and ... stores 20,638 111,614 Cost and discount, raising loans, etc. . • l,ii>.»>uia 1,207,482 69,676,198 WellinjSttßi-Hutt railway v and road imp. Bnjjways^

■Railways improvement i Authorisation Act, ; 1914 3t),375 516,447 J Loans to local bodi&T• roading Crown iwidi 697,408 • Opening up Crown Janda •; for settlement .... 206,629 » Lend for /settlements j account 51,3&"3 261,030. Kb tlono 1 undowmsnl a«- s ; count , *53,401; Aid .to water power • works and electric j supply 24,794 412,3121 VVathou and Ohinerauri j riven; improvement 27.402 , 92 019 : Totals 1,350,408 72,886,748 j ♦ Credits. I WAYS AND MEANS. j i On April 1, 1913, tlse available ways! and means for public works purposes; were £1,393,031. j The net expenditure on all works and j services chargeable against the Public; Works Fund for the year 1918-19! amounted to £1,207,482. i This left a credit balance in the Ways j and Means Account at March 31, 1919, of i £186,199, making a. total of £2,326,199. j In addition, it is proposed to ask for • authority to provide a further £750,000, j thus making available for expenditure j (luring the current financial year ending March 31, 1920, the sum of £3,076,199. The estimated expenditure on public works for the current year (exclusive of accounts which have their own ways and! means) is .02,986,257, leaving an est,i : j mated credit balance of £89,942 to be I carried forward to next year (1920-21). j In addition to the amounts above i described, statutory authority exists for j raising the balances under the following accounts: Aid to*"Water Power Works, Act, 1910, £51,000, Waihou and Ohine-, muri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, £50,000. Statutory authority is being asked for the hydro-electric development of Mangahao and Arapuni schemes, and j further extensions of Lake Coleridge; also for the purchase of Horahora, the extension thereof, and the erection of transmission lines, amounting in all to £6,830,000, making a total of £6,931,000. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Construction and maintenance liave been continued on twenty-nine sections of railway, with all available man-power ihat could be obtained at reasonable rates. No sections were handed over to the Working Railways Department, however, although I anticipate being in a position to do so during the ensuing twelve months. In all cases where the lines were in a forward state of completion goods have been carried for the convenience of settlers, and in some cases passengers were also accommodated. The total expenditure on railway construction and improvements during the financial year amounted to £467,297, particulars of which are as follows: , £ Construction of new lines 296,019 Additions to open lines 91,904 Railways Improvement Authorisation Act, 1914 79,375 i Opunake Branch. —No work was undertaken on this line until the last month of the year, when the construction of tho Waingongoro Bridge was resumed. It is proposed to push on this work, and provision is being made on the estimates accordingly. STKATFORD-MAIN TRUNK. West End. Taliora SMtiox—Formation work is now completed on this' section to 47 miles 24 chains. 'Taliora station-yard and all embankments have been widened to full width. ISallasting, however, had to be discontinued owing to the temporary closing of the Railway Department's metal-pit at Mount Egluont. Private crossings have been made by the erection of several small bridges. Culverts have been constructed, permanent fences totalling 1 mile 67 chains in length erected, and the service road efficiently maintained. A bi-weekly passenger and goods service for the convenience of settlers has been run to connect with the Railway Department's service at Taliora. Hcao Section. —Trial surveys have been undertaken to investigate the pos-. sibilities of (a) a square crossing at the Tangarakau, (b) a more direct route from there to Mangatatoka, and (c) a deviation between 54 and 57 miles. Tho location of over 4 miles of service has been completed, and to expedite future operations the pack-track to Tangarakau has been improved. East End. \Matiere Section—Formation was continued in banks and cuttings; 11J chains of top-heading and full excavation in Okaliu Tunnel were completed, as well as a similar amount of side and arch lining. Good progress was also made with two smaller tunnels. The abutments and piers of Ongaruc bridge were completed, but further progress is retard' ed pending the arrival 01 steel girders. ADDITIONS TO OPEN LINES. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund under the heading "Additions to Open Lines" amounted to £91,904. Of this sum £56,438 was expended in the provision of additional rolling-stock, tarpaulins, Westingbouse brakes, and workshops machinery. The balance covered expenditure upon improvements to workshops, station facilities, water-services, locomotive depots, stock-yards, tablet-installation, telegraph and telephone facilities, and purchase of land. EDUCATION BUILDINGS. The finance for education buildings for the remainder of the present year and the four following years has been established by the Education Purposes Loans Act recently passed by both Houses. It is estimated that the moneys already expended and the liabilities already inclined under this .class amount to £450,000, for which provision has to be made in addition to the moneys authorised under the special Act. Of tho £450,000 thus to L>6 provided separately from the Public Works Fund it is estimated that not more than £250,000 will actually conic to account during the present financial year, and a vote for that amount is proposed for appropriation accordingly. Any part of that £250,000 unexpended during the present financial year, together with the balance of £200,000, will be provided on the public works estimates of the financial year commencing on the Ist April, 1920, in addition to any moneys raised under the special Act. , The eil'cet will be that, in addition to the £500,000 for the present year and £750,000 for each of the four successive years (provision for which is made by the Education Purposes Loans Act), a further sum of £450,000 will be provided out of ordinary Loan Account to discharge past liabilities already incurred, and that, of the latter sum of £450,000, £250,000' is proposed to be voted in the present year, and £200,000, together with any unexpend* ei balance of the £230,000, to b» voted

Jin the next financial year. The moneys J authorised' by the special Act will be ■ thus rendered available for future com- : mitments only, without any charge I thereon for past expenditure and comj mitments. | WORKERS' DWELLINGS. j There was an expenditure of £7,293 i[ in connection with dwellings in the ; course ot erection and other works. .! During the current year it is anticipated >| that £150,000 will be required. ROADS CONSTRUCTION AND ! MAINTENANCE. 'j General.—The activities under this '; class have been carried on partly by the j Department itself and partly by local ; l bodies- under departmental supervision. | j The amount placed at my disposal for j this very important work under all j heads was £535,630. Of this, £55,050 \ j was provided under the Consolidated ' • Fund for maintenance. | i Unfortunately the expenditure did i not reach anticipations, owing to the | j difficulty of obtaining labor as well as ' t material. Steel for bridges was un- ' procurable, and owing to shortage of ; shipping space hardwood could not be ■ imported. 1 ! LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS : ] ACCOUNT. .Opening up Roads for Settlement. — .j in order to provide additional funds for • j the roading and development of Crown ; lands for the settlement of returned solI j iiers, the borrowing authority provided ■ for under section 62 of the Land Laws , Amendment Act, 1913, was increased - last year from ,£IOO,OOO to £250,000 ; by section 42 of the Appropriation Act. i j When labor conditions improve the whole of this authority will be avail- : able. CONCLUSION. ' Let me say, in conclusion, that realising the very natural anxiety on the part of each section of settlers now that the war is over to have its respective i roads of access and main roads comi pleted and metalled I have placed on • my estimates sums exceeding £1,000,- ! 000 for roads and bridges alone. To i have attempted to comply with all re- ■ quests would have necessitated provid- . itig over £2.C00,000, which would have ; been absurd for one rear's operations. s I have been careful t,o inquire as to • the roads leading to and through re- ■ turned soldiers' settlements, and have > endeavored in every case to make proi -vision for same.